Given how much Pei Ling cared about Qiao Ranran, and how the two were practically inseparable, it was strange not to see him with her.
A hint of embarrassment flashed through Qiao Ranran's eyes. Two days ago, she had hugged Pei Ling and said something that sounded almost like a confession. He had been happy, but she still felt shy about it. They had planned to come together this morning, but Guai Guai had suddenly begun advancing, so Pei Ling had taken Guai Guai away.
After all, if a Demon Beast advanced right under the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect's nose, even someone as powerful as Pei Ling would be in serious trouble if the slightest trace of Demonic Qi leaked out.
Qiao Ranran knew how fanatical the so-called Righteous Cultivators could be. They certainly would not let Guai Guai go easily, and Pei Ling certainly would not give them the chance to hurt Guai Guai. A fight would be inevitable, and she had no idea whether anyone could keep it under control.
All she knew was that the scene she dreaded most would unfold at once. Only at her insistence had Pei Ling finally left with Guai Guai.
"Oh, he's not here at the moment. Did you need him for something, Daoist Feng?"
"No."
Something suddenly occurred to Qiao Ranran. There were questions she had neither the heart nor the chance to ask in the Yao Mountain Secret Realm. "Daoist Feng, back in the Yao Mountain Secret Realm, did you reach the Ninth Layer?"
As soon as she spoke, Qiao Ranran realized how pointless the question was. Feng Changdong and the others had not been sent out when everyone else was expelled from the Eighth Layer, so they must have reached the Ninth Layer. She quickly corrected herself. "Ah, no.